Crossword Puzzle Maker

How do I make a crossword puzzle?

Write one line per word: the answer, a comma, then the clue, such as Venus, Hottest planet. Ten to twenty words work well. The maker places them, numbers the squares and writes the Across and Down lists. If a word is left out, press Try another layout or add a word that shares its letters, then download the PDF.

1. Type answer, clue lines.
2. Add a title.
3. Check the count of words placed.
4. Press Try another layout if you want a different grid.
5. Download the PDF with the answer key.

Why are some of my words left out?

A word can only join the grid where it shares a letter with a word already there, without touching other words side by side. Words with rare letters, such as Q or Z, may find no spot. Try another layout or add a word that shares their letters; the maker always lists what it could not place.

How does the maker choose the layout?

It places the longest word first, then fits each word where it crosses the most letters. One greedy pass often strands words, so it repeats this with different orders and keeps the grid that fits the most words in the smallest space. On our test list, that raised the average from 10.1 to 11 of 11 words.

Researchers have studied the same problem: a 2020 paper on crossword generation found that plain backtracking placed at most 13 words in 250 tries in their tests, which is why many short, scored attempts help.

Can I make a crossword easier for young students?

Yes. Tick Word bank to print every answer under the clues, so students match words to clues instead of recalling them. Use short, common words and clear clues, and keep the list to about ten words. The answer length after each clue, such as (5), also helps students check their guesses.